World Cup 2026 has already delivered goals in abundance, but only one group in the tournament features two of the competition's elite strikers going head to head. Norway vs France, played in Boston, is that rare occasion — a clash where Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe share the same pitch, with eight goals between them across the group stage so far.

The headline duel

Dismissing Norway as a one-man side is a lazy reading of this team. They are more than that — yet Haaland's singular brilliance can, on his best days, close the gap between Norway's collective quality and France's. The Manchester City striker is at his first World Cup and has already scored four goals in two appearances.

Mbappe matches him on that count, also arriving at this fixture with four goals in Group I. The France captain is chasing history: he has scored 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with former record holder Miroslav Klose, and is within reach of becoming the competition's all-time leading scorer — a record recently set by Lionel Messi.

Group I picture

The group has largely followed expectations. Both Norway and France defeated Iraq by three goals and found enough to see off Senegal, who were perhaps unfortunate to face two of the tournament's most prolific teams in their opening two fixtures.

The last meeting between these two nations was a 4-0 friendly win for France at the Stade de France — a match in which Olivier Giroud scored twice. On that occasion, Haaland was 13 years old and Mbappe was 15.

What is at stake

First place in Group I earns a round of 32 tie at MetLife Stadium against a third-placed team. Finishing second, by contrast, sets up a potential path through Ivory Coast — but also a possible collision with Brazil and co-hosts Mexico further along in the bracket.

Didier Deschamps will have prepared a tactical response to Haaland, and France's defensive personnel are capable of executing it. Whether Norway manager Stale Solbakken has a comparable answer for Mbappe is far less certain.

With Mbappe's hunger for the all-time scoring record adding extra edge to his motivation, France look the more complete side and are tipped to claim top spot in the group.

Score prediction: Norway 1-2 France